Posted on 05/26/2017 1:45:07 PM PDT by VRW Conspirator
Safe Boating Tips
No matter how much experience you have, it’s always a good idea for everyone to review boating safety rules before departures. Below you will find 10 basic boating safety tips to help you stay safe:
1.Be Weather-Wise
Always check local weather conditions before departure; TV and radio forecasts can be a good source of information. If you notice darkening clouds, volatile and rough changing winds or sudden drops in temperature, play it safe by getting off the water.
2.Follow a Pre-Departure Checklist
Proper boating safety includes being prepared for any possibility on the water. Following a pre-departure checklist is the best way to make sure no boating safety rules or precautions have been overlooked or forgotten.
3.Use Common Sense
One of the most important parts of boating safety is to use your common sense. This means operating at a safe speed at all times (especially in crowded areas), staying alert at all times and steering clear of large vessels and watercraft that can be restricted in their ability to stop or turn. Also, be respectful of buoys and other navigational aids, all of which have been placed there to ensure your own safety.
4.Designate an Assistant Skipper
Make sure more than one person on board is familiar with all aspects of your boat’s handling, operations, and general boating safety. If the primary navigator is injured or incapacitated in any way, it’s important to make sure someone else can follow the proper boating safety rules to get everyone else back to shore.
5.Develop a Float Plan
Whether you choose to inform a family member or staff at your local marina, always be sure to let someone else know your float plan. This should include where you’re going and how long you’re going to be gone.
A float plan can include the following information: name, address, and phone number of trip leader name and phone number of all passengers boat type and registration information trip itinerary types of communication and signal equipment onboard, such as an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)
6.Make Proper Use of Lifejackets
Did you know that the majority of drowning victims are the result of boaters not wearing their lifejackets? Make sure that your family and friends aren’t part of this statistic by assigning and fitting each member of your onboard team with a life jacket prior to departure. Wear it!
7.Avoid Alcohol
Practice boating safety at all times by saving the alcohol for later. The probability of being involved in a boating accident doubles when alcohol is involved and studies have shown that the effects of alcohol are exacerbated by sun and wind.
8.Learn to Swim
If you’re going to be in and around the water, proper boating safety includes knowing how to swim. Local organizations, such as the American Red Cross and others, offer training for all ages and abilities. Check to see what classes are offered in your area.
9.Take a Boating Course Beginning boaters and experienced experts alike need to be familiar with the boating safety rules of operation. Boater education requirements vary by state; however, some require validated completion of at least one boating safety course. Regardless of your individual state's requirements, it's always important to be educated and prepared for every circumstance that might arise. You can learn boating safety rules by taking a local community course or online course to help educate yourself.
10.Consider a Free Vessel Safety Check Take advantage of a free vessel safety check from the US Coast Guard. They offer complimentary boat examinations to verify the presence and condition of certain safety equipment required by state and federal regulations. Free of charge, they’ll provide a specialist to check out your boat and make helpful boating safety tips and recommendations. They also offer virtual online safety checks as well.
Always bring ballast in the form of your firearms collection, when you catch too many fish and they start to weigh the boat down, toss them overboard. ( Works really well when a gun grabbing dem is in power )
If you use a kayak, especially in less than perfect weather, ALWAYS wear your PFD so they can more easily recover your body.
Yeah, former Coastie. It helps them out A LOT!
yet FReepers are such lousy boaters
Speak for yourself, fool
“11. if it sinks you lost all your guns and ammo”
Now you tell me!
Brilliant!
I’m gonna guess that one went waaaaayyyyy over yer head. ;^)
When filling your boat with gasoline, remember NOT to put the nozzle in the rod holder or the pump out connection.
Knew someone who did that and after flushing out the holding tank, blew up the boat. Both he and his wife were seriously injured and of course the boat was a total loss.
For us power boaters in so cal if you can see it (ie catalina island) dont go
3.Use Common Sense
The beer MUST be kept ice cold!
My late pop always had beer out on the boat i had my fisrt sip on one
Sounds kinky
B.O.A.T. Break Out Another Thousand
Plan ahead. Take plenty of ice.
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Always remember to keep an eye out for Elvis;
“Elvis is Everywhere” by Mojo Nixon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpb4ZAAP6Z4
FReepers always seem to be losing stuff overboard. Like firearms...
An inflatable offshore vest with an attached McMurdo PLB is my solution. It goes on before I leave the dock.
I saved a kayaker’s life once. Sorry to say they were too STUPID to know they were in danger from drowning and hypothermia.
It was October and we were one of very few boats still on the lake. We were the only boat to respond to the distress call from her boyfriend on shore.
At first she refused help. The kayak was pointing toward the sky. She had a life jacket but wasn’t wearing it. It was quite windy and I had to be Very careful maneuvering my power boat near her. We finally convinced her to accept our help.
The boyfriend was very appreciative, she was pissed.
Should have let her drown! /s
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